Buying Hearing Aids

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#3420788 2-Oct-2025 17:45

linw:

... if/when I need to get new ones, I would go the Resonate route.

I agree Resonate is an interesting company. They were first listed in Companies Office in May 2022, seemingly backed by several investors - enough to put together a string of 29 offices in a short space of time. The business model is interesting, one focus, one product, one price through subscription. From a consumer point of view, if you are paying that sort of money (it is a top level product and there are cheaper aids), and get on with the aid they offer, I don't see how you can lose. If you are ACC funded (I am) it gets even better as there is no cost at all as long as you keep to the ACC terms of 6 years before you can replace the aids for a newer set. The problem with the rechargeable on offer, is that generally the batteries need replaceing after about 3 years as @johno1234 suggests. ACC does have an allowance for replacing rechargeable batteries, but finding out if this is even possible in a particular aid is like deep dive research.

I would certainly look at Resonate, but ultimately it would come down to whether I find the aids any good for my hearing loss.

johno1234

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#3420798 2-Oct-2025 18:31

MartinGZ:

linw:

... if/when I need to get new ones, I would go the Resonate route.

I agree Resonate is an interesting company. They were first listed in Companies Office in May 2022, seemingly backed by several investors - enough to put together a string of 29 offices in a short space of time. The business model is interesting, one focus, one product, one price through subscription. From a consumer point of view, if you are paying that sort of money (it is a top level product and there are cheaper aids), and get on with the aid they offer, I don't see how you can lose. If you are ACC funded (I am) it gets even better as there is no cost at all as long as you keep to the ACC terms of 6 years before you can replace the aids for a newer set. The problem with the rechargeable on offer, is that generally the batteries need replaceing after about 3 years as @johno1234 suggests. ACC does have an allowance for replacing rechargeable batteries, but finding out if this is even possible in a particular aid is like deep dive research.

I would certainly look at Resonate, but ultimately it would come down to whether I find the aids any good for my hearing loss.

johno1234

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#3420799 2-Oct-2025 18:34

Six years is a long time. I don’t know how fast the batteries degrade but those resound ones are 24+h batteries so even 75% capacity gets you through a day.

vexxxboy

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#3420904 3-Oct-2025 11:03

i am 4 years into my 6 year subsidy, so have 2 more years before i can claim , i told Resonate this and they said if you are within 3 years of being able to claim the subsidy the subscription cost would be a $100 a month until they can claim the subsidy. i am going to try it because i can afford an extra 10 a month and since the hearing aids i have are still ok if i find no difference i can go back to them after a month or 2. Win Win.

Common sense is not as common as you think.

johno1234

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#3420986 3-Oct-2025 13:59

Sweet. I am very interested to hear what you think of the process and the product. As I understand it they will ping you $100 for an audiologist consultation and test - worth doing regardless.

vexxxboy

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#3423506 9-Oct-2025 18:30

Ok i just had my first appointment with Resonate and i was impressed. They did a full test which took about half an hour and then set me up with the hearing aid . They had to order the cross Hearing aid and she also took an earmold to maximise the benefits as my hearing needed all the help it can get so i have to go back in 2 weeks to get them fitted. You pay the first month subscription on your first visit and that covers everything including all consumables that you might need. You also get 2 free ear cleanings a year. The hearing aid is fantastic compared to my old one i can hear so much more and the walk back to my car was amazing as i could hear people having conversations in the street .

Common sense is not as common as you think.

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Bluntj

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#3423671 10-Oct-2025 12:39

johno1234:

Six years is a long time. I don’t know how fast the batteries degrade but those resound ones are 24+h batteries so even 75% capacity gets you through a day.

Don't they replace them with the latest every 3 years?

johno1234

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#3423680 10-Oct-2025 14:15

Bluntj:

johno1234:

Six years is a long time. I don’t know how fast the batteries degrade but those resound ones are 24+h batteries so even 75% capacity gets you through a day.

Don't they replace them with the latest every 3 years?

Six years is the ACC replacement period.

johno1234

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#3423681 10-Oct-2025 14:16

vexxxboy:

Ok i just had my first appointment with Resonate and i was impressed. They did a full test which took about half an hour and then set me up with the hearing aid . They had to order the cross Hearing aid and she also took an earmold to maximise the benefits as my hearing needed all the help it can get so i have to go back in 2 weeks to get them fitted. You pay the first month subscription on your first visit and that covers everything including all consumables that you might need. You also get 2 free ear cleanings a year. The hearing aid is fantastic compared to my old one i can hear so much more and the walk back to my car was amazing as i could hear people having conversations in the street .

Thanks - when my current set need to be replaced I'll be going along to see them.

mattwnz

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#3423690 10-Oct-2025 15:15

johno1234:

Six years is the ACC replacement period.

That is a bit surprising because I wonder what the product design life is. I guess if they don't last 6 years and you are paying for them yourself and they fail inside 6 years, you could use ACCs replacement period as a way to show under the CGA that they should last 6 years.

johno1234

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#3423701 10-Oct-2025 16:20

mattwnz:

johno1234:

Six years is the ACC replacement period.

That is a bit surprising because I wonder what the product design life is. I guess if they don't last 6 years and you are paying for them yourself and they fail inside 6 years, you could use ACCs replacement period as a way to show under the CGA that they should last 6 years.

The non-rechargeable ones may last that long - I don't know. But the rechargeable ones are expected to lose battery life after three years. My current set were new in June 2022 so now 3 years and 4 months. The warranty is three years. I find that they are running out of juice by some time between 9 and 11pm depending on how much streaming audio I have listened to during the day.

I was told about the expected life at purchase so it won't be anything covered by CGA.

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mattwnz

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#3423713 10-Oct-2025 16:46

johno1234:

rgeable ones may last that long - I don't know. But the rechargeable ones are expected to lose battery life after three years. My current set were new in June 2022 so now 3 years and 4 months. The warranty is three years. I find that they are running out of juice by some time between 9 and 11pm depending on how much streaming audio I have listened to during the day.

I was told about the expected life at purchase so it won't be anything covered by CGA.

IANAL but I don't think companies can contract out of the CGA in terms of how long a product is expected to last for. IMO if it is a consumable like a battery, then it should be able to be replaced, like they are in iphones for example, and shouldn't dictate the life of the product. My dad got hearing aids with button cells for this reason and because the purchase price it was cheaper, but replacing them is a PITA, and he often doesn't use them which is more frustrating for everyone else because of the volume he has the TV etc. That is one reason I got my mum airpod pro 3s, rechargable and relatively low cost,even if they only last her 3 years, they will be worth it.

robjg63

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#3423730 10-Oct-2025 17:32

Just to be clear - there is an ACC hearing coverage/subsidy for industrial hearing loss - that is a different scheme - not sure how much that is or how often.

The rest of us who are suffering from 'general' hearing loss are eligible for the DSS Hearing Aid Subsidy Scheme.

This is $511.11 per hearing aid ($1022.22 per pair) and "The subsidy for each hearing aid is available no more than once every six years.".

Resonate looks pretty interesting to me - Will try and remember them when my HA's are up for replacement - looks like I have had mine 3 years - so in another 3 years.

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johno1234

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#3423739 10-Oct-2025 18:21

robjg63:

Just to be clear - there is an ACC hearing coverage/subsidy for industrial hearing loss - that is a different scheme - not sure how much that is or how often.

The rest of us who are suffering from 'general' hearing loss are eligible for the DSS Hearing Aid Subsidy Scheme.

This is $511.11 per hearing aid ($1022.22 per pair) and "The subsidy for each hearing aid is available no more than once every six years.".

Resonate looks pretty interesting to me - Will try and remember them when my HA's are up for replacement - looks like I have had mine 3 years - so in another 3 years.

You can’t replace the battery in rechargeable hearing aids. They’re tiny as the whole unit has to be small enough to fit invisibly behind your ear. I don’t believe the technology of the day allows anything better if you want the convenience.
Fit for purpose means it will do what the vendor says it will do so CGA won’t apply IMHO. If a court says otherwise then they would simply remove them from the market and that option would disappear.
The tech has improved in the last three years. Note the batteries last up to 30h on a charge.

johno1234

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#3423744 10-Oct-2025 18:24

robjg63:

Just to be clear - there is an ACC hearing coverage/subsidy for industrial hearing loss - that is a different scheme - not sure how much that is or how often.

The rest of us who are suffering from 'general' hearing loss are eligible for the DSS Hearing Aid Subsidy Scheme.

This is $511.11 per hearing aid ($1022.22 per pair) and "The subsidy for each hearing aid is available no more than once every six years.".

Resonate looks pretty interesting to me - Will try and remember them when my HA's are up for replacement - looks like I have had mine 3 years - so in another 3 years.

Six year stipulation on the ACC option too

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